He arrived at Spirit Academy.
The Soul Fighting Arena was still as crowded with students as before.
Han Xing walked up to the teacher who had handled his registration last time and handed over his student ID.
"You?"
The teacher looked surprised to see him.
"Teacher, you remember me?" Han Xing asked, astonished.
"I know every student in the academy," the teacher said proudly.
"You've been at Spirit Academy for a while now. You're at level twenty-nine, and you've only fought in one match. How could I forget you?"
"I haven't seen you for a while. Did you spend that time improving yourself and come back to train in the Soul Fighting Arena?" the teacher asked.
"Mm." Han Xing nodded. "I want to enter a Soul Fighting match at the Soul Elder level."
"But I only just returned to the academy today, so I haven't had a chance to advance yet."
"You broke through?" The teacher narrowed his eyes and studied Han Xing for a long moment before finally giving an approving nod.
"Level thirty-three. You really did break through."
"But Soul Elders fight under much greater pressure than Soul Grandmasters. Are you sure you want to compete now?"
"I'm sure," Han Xing said firmly.
"Very well. In that case, I'll submit your name."
The teacher handed him a token. "Number eighteen. Go wait over there. Someone will call you when it's your turn."
Han Xing took the token and headed toward the Soul Fighting Arena.
Watching Han Xing's retreating figure, the teacher fell silent.
Only after Han Xing had disappeared completely did the teacher shake his head and murmur to himself.
"I thought he couldn't handle the pressure of the Soul Fighting Arena at Spirit Academy, so he stopped competing."
"I never expected it was because the arena wasn't challenging enough for him..."
"Looks like the academy is about to gain another monster. An eleven-year-old Soul Elder, tsk, tsk."
"I wonder how the other students will deal with him."
The teacher sighed for a long while. Only when another student came to register did he turn his attention back to work.
Han Xing had no idea the teacher had mistaken him for someone who couldn't withstand the pressure.
Now that he was at the Soul Elder Soul Fighting Arena, he watched the students battling onstage, and some interest finally sparked in his eyes.
He watched two matches.
The students who competed were basically all above level thirty-five, with most between levels thirty-seven and thirty-nine.
"Looks like I came to the right place this time." Excitement shone in Han Xing's eyes.
"Surely a low-level Soul Elder fighting a high-level one won't leave me unable to show my strength again."
Each cultivation realm could be divided into three stages.
Low, middle, and high.
Han Xing was now level thirty-three, which made him a low-level Soul Elder.
Most students competing at Spirit Academy's Soul Fighting Arena were high-level Soul Elders.
Even the weakest high-level Soul Elder was at least four levels above Han Xing.
As Han Xing was thinking, the referee onstage soon called out number eighteen.
Hearing his number, Han Xing hurried to his feet and stepped onto the ring.
His opponent was a young man who looked about eighteen or nineteen.
Seeing Han Xing, the young man couldn't help showing his contempt.
"Zhao Kuo, level thirty-eight defensive Battle Soul Elder. Martial Soul: Giant Rock Turtle."
"You've reached the Soul Elder level at such a young age. Even I have to admit you're a genius."
"But the Soul Fighting Arena isn't a place for you to be yet."
At that, Han Xing first activated Martial Soul Possession, then spoke unhurriedly.
"Han Xing, level thirty-three Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder. Martial Soul: Three-Legged Golden Crow."
"Is being older really something to be proud of?"
"Trying to lecture me? Sorry, I'm not listening. You haven't got the chops."
"You!"
Zhao Kuo's expression turned cold. He decided then and there to teach the kid in front of him a lesson.
Seeing their tempers flare, the referee immediately announced,
"Begin!"
There was no point in arguing over who was right or wrong.
Only the winner could explain everything.
"First Soul Skill! Rock Skin Hardening!"
Zhao Kuo made the first move. As his Soul Ring lit up, his whole body became as hard as rock.
"If you've got the guts, break through my defenses."
"Today, I'll show you that your flames are completely useless."
Earth could overcome fire. The more fire baked it, the harder earth became.
That was why earth-type Soul Masters often had high resistance to flames.
"I've never heard such an outrageous request," Han Xing sneered.
"Since you're begging me to crack your turtle shell, I'll oblige."
Then, the two Soul Rings on Han Xing's body lit up one after another.
"First Soul Skill, Dawn Light Fire Feather!"
"Third Soul Skill, Gilded Sky Wings!"
A pair of broad, magnificent Gilded Sky Wings unfurled behind Han Xing, their golden light flowing slowly along the feather patterns.
As the light gathered at the base of the wings, violent Sun True Fire surged up, instantly engulfing them.
Gilded Fire Wings—this was a new way Han Xing had developed to use his Soul Skills during the time he'd spent returning to Spirit Academy.
By combining two Soul Skills, he could further increase the temperature of the fiery trails left by Gilded Sky Wings.
And Gilded Sky Wings could give the feathers fired by Dawn Light Fire Feather an armor-piercing effect.
With his Soul Skills activated, Han Xing vanished from the spot in an instant, moving too quickly for Zhao Kuo to detect.
"Where is he?"
Zhao Kuo's heart lurched. He immediately realized that his opponent was no ordinary person.
He looked up and around, but couldn't sense where Han Xing was at all.
Only when he heard the sound of something tearing through the air did Zhao Kuo belatedly realize his opponent had already attacked.
"Damn it! Third Soul Skill, Mountain Suppressing Rampart!"
Bang!
Zhao Kuo had only just activated his third Soul Skill when a heavy, muffled impact rang out.
"That was close. If I'd been a second slower, I would've been hit."
Zhao Kuo looked at the long scratch that had appeared on the enormous rocky turtle shell protecting him, and couldn't help feeling a lingering fear.
"What a terrifying attack. If I hadn't activated my third Soul Skill and had tried to tank it with only the first, I'd probably have been eliminated already."
Zhao Kuo turned to look in the distance. After the attack, a golden streak of light hung in midair.
Following the streak, he saw Han Xing standing not far away.
"But now, it's my turn to strike back!"
"Second Soul Skill, Giant Rock Charge!"
As Zhao Kuo's second Soul Ring lit up, a thick Rock Barrier gathered around him.
With the armband still on, Zhao Kuo charged straight toward Han Xing.
"A charging-type Soul Skill?"
Han Xing was a little surprised, but he didn't panic.
Watching Zhao Kuo rush at him, he curled his lips into a smile and slowed his pace.
Just as Zhao Kuo was about to catch up, Han Xing abruptly changed direction, leaving behind nothing but a blazing streak of light.
"It's no use. My second Soul Skill locks on to its target," Zhao Kuo said excitedly.
"Once you're within my lock-on range and I activate the Soul Skill,"
"you can struggle all you want, but you won't escape unless I stop it myself."